Wimbledon: Ons Jabeur becomes first woman from Africa in open era to make a Slam final | Tennis News – Times of India

LONDON: Ons Jabeur crafted 39 winners in her one-hour 43-minute semifinal outing – drop shots, trick variations, treats and the echo of thunder. The sparkler she had saved for after.
A forehand error by Tatjana Maria put Jabeur in the Wimbledon final on Thursday, the path-breaking Tunisian adding another chapter to her historic charge. The 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win ensured the 27-year-old became the first North African and Arab woman to make the title round of a major.
Jabeur and Maria, close friends, fought fiercely, running each other ragged. Not giving the other an angle or a line to escape with. They pumped fists and celebrated winners, their teams cheered animatedly and their minds were ticking as fast as the feet were moving.

Jabeur made the early charge and Maria, the mother of two, responded with her own version of the same in the second set. Then, after the last ball had been struck, they met at the net for a statement hug — great friends can compete against each other.
Once they were done with their exchange at the net, Jabeur led the 103rd-ranked Maria back into the middle, reintroducing her to Centre Court. In a semantic punctuated by respect.

“She killed me on the court, it was harder running for the balls (than it was playing my friend),” Jabeur said.
“She has to make me a barbeque now for all the running that she made me do. Tatjana deserves a lot of respect, making the semifinal for the first time. The way she plays, the way she fights.
“If I didn’t see her two kids, I would say she never had the kids. It’s amazing how she moves on the court. It’s really inspiring for a lot of women,” said Jabeur of Maria, who at 34 is in her first major semifinal.

“When I play tennis, I’m focused on myself. For me it’s just a tennis match. We didn’t go to war or anything. I have a lot of respect for her. If she won today, she would have deserved it 100 percent,” said Jabeur, the world No. 2, who extended her winning streak to 11 matches.
Jabeur, who won the title in Berlin, said making the final at Church Road was a dream come true.
“It’s years and years of sacrifice and work paying off. I continue for one more match now,” she said. “I am a proud Tunisian woman standing here today, I know in Tunisia everyone is going crazy now. I want to see more and more Tunisian and African players on the Tour.”

In Saturday’s final Jabeur will play the Moscow-born No.17 seed Elena Rybakina.
The 23-year-old, who has been representing Kazakhstan since 2018, came through 6-3, 6-3 against the 2019 champion Simona Halep in the second semifinal.